Fifteen Douglas County School System middle school students were surprised with the news last month that their essays won them a trip to Costa Rica. They will travel there in April to study how the country has protected its rainforests over the past 40 years.

The Douglas County Board of Education and the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority are sponsoring the trip.

The winners, listed by school, are:

• Chapel Hill Middle School: Magnolia Miller and Evelynn Smith
• Chestnut Log Middle School: Miguel Angel Olvera-Rodriguez and Romina Evangelista Moyeda
• Factory Shoals Middle School: Ethan Joyner and Abigail Vallere
• Fairplay Middle School: Ericka Schurman and Amirah Harpe
• Mason Creek Middle School: Camden Clayton and Gabrielle Andrews
• Stewart Middle School: Giovanni Floyd and Trenton Fitch
• Turner Middle School: Madison Heard
• Yeager Middle School: Antoine Reed and Madison Sharp

The group will visit Arenal Volcano National Park and the Tirimbina Biological Reserve. They will also tour a working pineapple farm, go ziplining, and join a nighttime wildlife exploration.

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Mitch Springer said the itinerary is built around what Costa Rica has done to protect its land and wildlife.

"This experience will give our students a deeper understanding of how Costa Rica has worked over the past 40 years to protect and expand its rainforests, preserve biodiversity, and protect its wildlife," Springer said. "More importantly, students will see firsthand how environmental conservation, responsible stewardship, agriculture, tourism, and community development are interconnected."

Springer said the trip also gives students a view of the world beyond Douglas County.

"By experiencing another country and learning directly from its people, environment, and conservation efforts, our students are developing the knowledge, perspective, and global awareness needed to become lifelong learners and productive citizens in a global society," he said.